Smoke & Peel

Old Fashioned · Irish Whiskey · Smoked

Emerald Smoke

Irish whiskey and honey under a light veil of applewood smoke.

ABV
30%
Calories, est.
150
In the glass
2 ⅞ oz
Serve
Rocks, large cube

For adults 21 and over. Please drink responsibly.

How it tastes

Green apple, honey and soft malt, with a thin, sweet smoke that never turns heavy.

Bright and fruity, with caramel sweetness on the finish. Balanced at about 30% ABV once diluted. Sweetened with honey syrup.

Sweet
Spice
Smoke
Fruit
Bitter
Oak

Why it works

Irish whiskey is light and smooth, so it works best with gentle partners. Honey and orange bitters add sweetness and aroma, and applewood is one of the mildest smokes, matching the whiskey's orchard fruit. Many Irish whiskeys are triple distilled, which suits this soft style.

Tips

  • Smoke for just a few seconds. Irish whiskey is delicate and heavy smoke will overwhelm it.
  • Stay with an 80 to 86 proof Irish whiskey for the smoothest result.
  • Orange peel tends to work better than lemon here.

The recipe

Emerald Smoke Old Fashioned

Makes 1 drink. Light and smooth, often triple-distilled. Green apple, honey and gentle malt.

Ingredients

Ingredients for one Emerald Smoke Old Fashioned
2 oz60 mlIrish Whiskey80 proof
¼ oz7 mlHoney syrup1 part honey to 1 part warm water
1 dashAngostura bitters
2 dashesOrange bitters
1 stripOrange peelAbout 2 inches, little pith
A pinchApplewood chipsFor smoking the glass
1Large ice cube

Bottles to try

$Jameson · Powers Gold Label
$$Jameson Black Barrel · Green Spot
$$$Redbreast 12 Year

$ under $40 · $$ $40–70 · $$$ $70+ · typical 750 ml price

Method

  1. Smoke the glass first. Light applewood chips with a smoking gun or torch, trap the smoke under a cloche or the upturned rocks glass, and leave it covered.
  2. Add the honey syrup and bitters to a mixing glass.
  3. Pour in the whiskey. Fill the mixing glass with ice and stir for 30 seconds, until the outside is cold to the touch.
  4. Uncover the smoked glass. Add one large cube to the rocks glass and strain the drink over it.
  5. Express the orange peel over the drink, skin side down. Rub it around the rim and drop it in.

Batch for 8

Making it for a crowd? Mix ahead, chill, and pour.

Ingredients

Ingredients for eight Emerald Smoke Old Fashioned drinks
16 oz475 ml · 2 cupsIrish Whiskey80 proof
2 oz60 mlHoney syrup1 part honey to 1 part warm water
8 dashes≈ 1 ¼ tspAngostura bitters
16 dashes≈ 2 ½ tspOrange bitters
4 oz120 mlCold waterStands in for stirring dilution
8 stripsOrange peelAbout 2 inches, little pith
A pinchApplewood chipsFor smoking the glass
8Large ice cubes

Method

  1. In a pitcher or bottle, combine the whiskey, honey syrup and bitters.
  2. Add 4 oz of cold water. This replaces the dilution you'd get from stirring.
  3. Chill in the fridge for at least 2 hours, or in the freezer for 1 hour.
  4. Just before serving, smoke each glass with applewood chips and keep it covered until you pour.
  5. Pour 2 ⅞ oz per glass over one large cube.
  6. Express the orange peel over each drink, skin side down. Rub it around the rim and drop it in.

Make it your own

  • Skip the smoke for a lighter, fruitier version.
  • Use cherrywood for a sweeter smoke.
  • Try maple in place of honey.

Change anything, see it in the glass.

Open this recipe in the builder to swap the whiskey, sweetener, bitters, ice or smoke and watch the ABV and flavor profile move.

Open in the builder